U.S. patent number 10,562,121 [Application Number 15/751,995] was granted by the patent office on 2020-02-18 for wear resistant parts and fabrication.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to Kjell Haugvaldstad, Jonathan Luke James, Stuart Alan Kolbe, Svein Olav Vikan.
United States Patent |
10,562,121 |
Kolbe , et al. |
February 18, 2020 |
Wear resistant parts and fabrication
Abstract
A wear resistant part includes a first material including a
structure having a surface feature. The first material is capable
of maintaining its structure at a temperature from about
1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C. (e.g., upon exposure to
the temperature or upon being heated to reach the temperature). The
wear resistant part also includes a second material formed into a
shape extending partially around the structure of the first
material while exposing the surface feature of the first material.
The shape of the second material is formed by a matrix infiltration
at a temperature from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree.
C.
Inventors: |
Kolbe; Stuart Alan (Stonehouse,
GB), James; Jonathan Luke (Stonehouse, GB),
Haugvaldstad; Kjell (Sor-Trondelag, NO), Vikan; Svein
Olav (Sor-Trondelag, NO) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schlumberger Technology Corporation |
Sugar Land |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION (Sugar Land, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
57983571 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/751,995 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2016 |
PCT
Filed: |
August 10, 2016 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US2016/046220 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
February 12, 2018 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2017/027530 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
February 16, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180236580 A1 |
Aug 23, 2018 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
62204397 |
Aug 12, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
34/06 (20130101); B23K 1/0008 (20130101); E21B
17/10 (20130101); B23K 2103/52 (20180801) |
Current International
Class: |
B32B
3/00 (20060101); B23K 1/00 (20060101); E21B
34/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in
International Patent application PCT/US2016/046220, dated Nov. 11,
2016. 13 pages. cited by applicant .
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued in
International Patent application PCT/US2016/046220, dated Feb. 22,
2018, 10 pages. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Mulvaney; Elizabeth E
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of a related U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 62/204,397 filed on Aug. 12, 2015, entitled
HIGH MELTING POINT INSERTS FOR BONDING OR CASTING TO INFILTRATED
TUNGSTEN CARBIDE to Stuart Alan Kolbe et al., the disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wear resistant part comprising: an insert portion, including:
a first material, wherein the first material maintains an integrity
of the insert portion at a temperature from about 1000.degree. C.
to about 1500.degree. C.; and at least one operating surface
configured to interact with a part; and a matrix including a second
material, the insert portion being positioned in the matrix such
that the insert portion is internal to the matrix, the at least one
operating surface being exposed from the matrix.
2. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 1, wherein the first
material comprises a ceramic material.
3. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 1, wherein the
second material comprises an infiltrated tungsten carbide
material.
4. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 1, wherein a surface
of the first material in contact with the second material is
metalized.
5. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 4, wherein the
metalized surface of the first material is bonded with the second
material.
6. A method comprising: receiving an insert having at least one
operating surface, the insert formed of a first material; forming a
matrix around the insert by a matrix infiltration at a temperature
from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C., the matrix
including a second material, the matrix being formed around the
insert of the first material such that the at at least one
operating surface is exposed from the matrix, wherein forming the
matrix maintains an integrity of a structure of the insert during
infiltration; and connecting the second material to the first
material.
7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first material
comprises a ceramic material.
8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the second material
comprises an infiltrated tungsten carbide material.
9. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising metallizing
a surface of the insert to form a metallized surface.
10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein connecting the second
material to the first material comprises brazing the first material
to the second material at the metallized surface.
11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein forming the matrix
around the insert includes bonding the metallized surface with the
second material during the matrix infiltration.
12. A wear resistant part comprising: an insert portion, including:
a first material, wherein the first material maintains an integrity
of the insert portion at a temperature from about 1000.degree. C.
to about 1500.degree. C.; at least one operating surface configured
to interact with a part; and a matrix including a second material,
the matrix being connected to the first material, the matrix
encompassing the insert portion, the at least one operating surface
being exposed in the matrix such that the at least one operating
surface can interact with the part.
13. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 12, wherein the
first material comprises a ceramic material.
14. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 12, wherein the
matrix is formed partially around the insert portion by a matrix
infiltration.
15. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 12, wherein a
surface of the first material in contact with the second material
is metalized.
16. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 15, wherein the
first material is brazed to the second material at the surface.
17. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 15, wherein the
second material is formed partially around the first material by a
matrix infiltration, and the metalized surface of the first
material is for bonding with the second material during the matrix
infiltration.
18. The wear resistant part as recited in claim 12, wherein the
operating surface comprises a high tolerance operating surface.
19. The wear resistant part of claim 1, wherein the insert is a
stator for a valve.
20. The wear resistant part of claim 1, wherein the insert portion
is mechanically interlocked within the matrix.
Description
BACKGROUND
Oil wells are created by drilling a hole into the earth using a
drilling rig that rotates a drill string (e.g., drill pipe) having
a drill bit attached thereto. The drill bit, aided by the weight of
pipes (e.g., drill collars) cuts into rock within the earth.
Drilling fluid (e.g., mud) is pumped into the drill pipe and exits
at the drill bit. The drilling fluid may be used to cool the bit,
lift rock cuttings to the surface, at least partially prevent
destabilization of the rock in the wellbore, and/or at least
partially overcome the pressure of fluids inside the rock so that
the fluids do not enter the wellbore.
SUMMARY
Aspects of the disclosure can relate to a wear resistant part that
includes a first material including a structure having a surface
feature. The first material is capable of maintaining its structure
at a temperature from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree.
C. (e.g., upon exposure to the temperature or upon being heated to
reach the temperature). The wear resistant part also includes a
second material formed into a shape extending partially around the
structure of the first material while exposing the surface feature
of the first material. The shape of the second material is formed
by a matrix infiltration at a temperature from about 1000.degree.
C. to about 1500.degree. C.
Other aspects of the disclosure can relate to a method for forming
a wear resistant part from a first material and a second material.
The method can include receiving a structure having at least one
surface feature, where the structure is formed of a first material
capable of maintaining the structure at a temperature from about
1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C. (e.g., upon exposure to
the temperature or upon being heated to reach the temperature). The
method can also include forming, by a matrix infiltration at a
temperature from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C., a
second material into a shape that can extend partially around the
structure of the first material while exposing the at least one
surface feature of the first material. The method can also include
connecting the second material to the first material.
Also, aspects of the disclosure can relate to a wear resistant part
that includes a first material including a structure having at
least one surface feature. The first material is capable of
maintaining its structure at a temperature from about 1000.degree.
C. to about 1500.degree. C. (e.g., upon exposure to the temperature
or upon being heated to reach the temperature). The wear resistant
part also includes a second material connected to the first
material. The second material is formed into a shape extending
partially around the structure of the first material while exposing
the at least one surface feature of the first material. The shape
of the second material is formable by a matrix infiltration at a
temperature from about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that
are further described below in the detailed description. This
summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of
the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid
in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
FIGURES
Embodiments of wear resistant parts and fabrication thereof are
described with reference to the following figures. The same numbers
are used throughout the figures to reference like features and
components.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments of wear
resistant parts and fabrication can be implemented;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional isometric view illustrating various
components of an example device that can implement embodiments of
wear resistant parts and fabrication;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional exploded isometric view of the
components illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional isometric view illustrating various
components of an example device that can implement embodiments of
wear resistant parts and fabrication;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional exploded isometric view of the
components illustrated in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 illustrates example method(s) for forming a wear resistant
part from a first material and a second material in accordance with
one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The material or materials from which a tool is fabricated can
influence the durability and associated structural characteristics
of the particular tool and can influence the operating environment
in which the tool can be employed. For systems used in highly
abrasive environments, wear of system components can lead to
downtime of the systems, which can influence throughput of
applications in the highly abrasive environments. Such applications
can include, but are not limited to, drilling applications, boring
applications, and mining applications. Further, the operation of a
first tool component can influence the structural integrity of a
second tool component. For example, operation of a rotary valve can
introduce a rotor spinning relative to an operating surface of a
stator. Such operation can introduce wear to mated regions of the
rotor and stator, where replacement of either or both of the rotor
and the stator can affect the operating life of the rotary
valve.
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wear resistant parts,
where in some embodiments, the wear resistant parts can form at
least a portion of a tool or system that can be used in highly
abrasive environments. The wear resistant parts can form a surface
feature (e.g., an operating surface, such as a running surface,
bushing surface, or so forth) that is exposed following connection
between a first material and a second material, the materials that
provide shape and structure to the wear resistant part. In some
embodiments, the wear resistant parts can be included in a valve
(e.g., a rotary valve), a piston, a flow channel, a bearing, a
filter, a stabilizer, a flow diverter, or other tools or systems.
As described herein, drilling applications are provided by way of
example and are not meant to limit the present disclosure. In other
embodiments, systems, techniques, and apparatus as described herein
can be used with other down hole operations. Further, such systems,
techniques, and apparatus can be used in other applications not
necessarily related to down hole operations.
FIG. 1 depicts a wellsite system 100 in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure. The wellsite can be onshore
or offshore. A borehole 102 is formed in subsurface formations by
directional drilling. A drill string 104 extends from a drill rig
106 and is suspended within the borehole 102. In some embodiments,
the wellsite system 100 implements directional drilling using a
rotary steerable system (RSS). For instance, the drill string 104
is rotated from the surface, and down hole devices move the end of
the drill string 104 in a desired direction. The drill rig 106
includes a platform and derrick assembly positioned over the
borehole 102. In some embodiments, the drill rig 106 includes a
rotary table 108, kelly 110, hook 112, rotary swivel 114, and so
forth. For example, the drill string 104 is rotated by the rotary
table 108, which engages the kelly 110 at the upper end of the
drill string 104. The drill string 104 is suspended from the hook
112 using the rotary swivel 114, which permits rotation of the
drill string 104 relative to the hook 112. However, this
configuration is provided by way of example and is not meant to
limit the present disclosure. For instance, in other embodiments a
top drive system is used.
A bottom hole assembly (BHA) 116 is suspended at the end of the
drill string 104. The bottom hole assembly 116 includes a drill bit
118 at its lower end. In embodiments of the disclosure, the drill
string 104 includes a number of drill pipes 120 that extend the
bottom hole assembly 116 and the drill bit 118 into subterranean
formations. Drilling fluid (e.g., mud) 122 is stored in a tank
and/or a pit 124 formed at the wellsite. The drilling fluid 122 can
be water-based, oil-based, and so on. A pump 126 displaces the
drilling fluid 122 to an interior passage of the drill string 104
via, for example, a port in the rotary swivel 114, causing the
drilling fluid 122 to flow downwardly through the drill string 104
as indicated by directional arrow 128. The drilling fluid 122 exits
the drill string 104 via ports (e.g., courses, nozzles) in the
drill bit 118, and then circulates upwardly through the annulus
region between the outside of the drill string 104 and the wall of
the borehole 102, as indicated by directional arrows 130. In this
manner, the drilling fluid 122 cools and lubricates the drill bit
118 and carries drill cuttings generated by the drill bit 118 up to
the surface (e.g., as the drilling fluid 122 is returned to the pit
124 for recirculation). Further, destabilization of the rock in the
wellbore can be at least partially prevented, the pressure of
fluids inside the rock can be at least partially overcome so that
the fluids do not enter the wellbore, and so forth.
In embodiments of the disclosure, the drill bit 118 comprises one
or more crushing and/or cutting implements, such as conical cutters
and/or bit cones having spiked teeth (e.g., in the manner of a
roller-cone bit). In this configuration, as the drill string 104 is
rotated, the bit cones roll along the bottom of the borehole 102 in
a circular motion. As they roll, new teeth come in contact with the
bottom of the borehole 102, crushing the rock immediately below and
around the bit tooth. As the cone continues to roll, the tooth then
lifts off the bottom of the hole and a high-velocity drilling fluid
jet strikes the crushed rock chips to remove them from the bottom
of the borehole 102 and up the annulus. As this occurs, another
tooth makes contact with the bottom of the borehole 102 and creates
new rock chips. In this manner, the process of chipping the rock
and removing the small rock chips with the fluid jets is
continuous. The teeth intermesh on the cones, which helps clean the
cones and enables larger teeth to be used. A drill bit 118
comprising a conical cutter can be implemented as a steel
milled-tooth bit, a carbide insert bit, and so forth. However,
roller-cone bits are provided by way of example and are not meant
to limit the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a drill bit
118 is arranged differently. For example, the body of the drill bit
118 comprises one or more polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC)
cutters that shear rock with a continuous scraping motion.
In some embodiments, the bottom hole assembly 116 includes a
logging-while-drilling (LWD) module 132, a measuring-while-drilling
(MWD) module 134, a rotary steerable system 136, a motor, and so
forth (e.g., in addition to the drill bit 118). The
logging-while-drilling module 132 can be housed in a drill collar
and can contain one or a number of logging tools. It should also be
noted that more than one LWD module and/or MWD module can be
employed (e.g. as represented by another logging-while-drilling
module 138). In embodiments of the disclosure, the logging--while
drilling modules 132 and/or 138 include capabilities for measuring,
processing, and storing information, as well as for communicating
with surface equipment, and so forth.
The measuring-while-drilling module 134 can also be housed in a
drill collar, and can contain one or more devices for measuring
characteristics of the drill string 104 and drill bit 118. The
measuring-while-drilling module 134 can also include components for
generating electrical power for the down hole equipment. This can
include a mud turbine generator powered by the flow of the drilling
fluid 122. However, this configuration is provided by way of
example and is not meant to limit the present disclosure. In other
embodiments, other power and/or battery systems can be employed.
The measuring-while-drilling module 134 can include one or more of
the following measuring devices: a direction measuring device, an
inclination measuring device, and so on. Further, a
logging-while-drilling module 132 and/or 138 can include one or
more measuring devices, such as a weight-on-bit measuring device, a
torque measuring device, a vibration measuring device, a shock
measuring device, a stick slip measuring device, and so forth.
In some embodiments, the wellsite system 100 is used with
controlled steering or directional drilling. For example, the
rotary steerable system 136 is used for directional drilling. As
used herein, the term "directional drilling" describes intentional
deviation of the wellbore from the path it would naturally take.
Thus, directional drilling refers to steering the drill string 104
so that it travels in a desired direction. In some embodiments,
directional drilling is used for offshore drilling (e.g., where
multiple wells are drilled from a single platform). In other
embodiments, directional drilling enables horizontal drilling
through a reservoir, which enables a longer length of the wellbore
to traverse the reservoir, increasing the production rate from the
well. Further, directional drilling may be used in vertical
drilling operations. For example, the drill bit 118 may veer off of
a planned drilling trajectory because of the unpredictable nature
of the formations being penetrated or the varying forces that the
drill bit 118 experiences. When such deviation occurs, the wellsite
system 100 may be used to guide the drill bit 118 back on
course.
The drill string 104 can include one or more extendable
displacement mechanisms, such as a piston mechanism that can be
actuated by an actuator to displace a pad toward, for instance, a
borehole wall to cause the bottom hole assembly 116 to move in a
desired direction of deviation. In embodiments of the disclosure, a
displacement mechanism can be actuated by the drilling fluid 122
routed through the drill string 104. For example, the drilling
fluid 122 is used to move a piston, which changes the orientation
of the drill bit 118 (e.g., changing the drilling axis orientation
with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bottom hole assembly
116). The displacement mechanism may be employed to control a
directional bias and/or an axial orientation of the bottom hole
assembly 116. Displacement mechanisms may be arranged, for example,
to point the drill bit 118 and/or to push the drill bit 118. In
some embodiments, a displacement mechanism is deployed by a
drilling system using a rotary steerable system 136 that rotates
with a number of displacement mechanisms. It should be noted that
the rotary steerable system 136 can be used in conjunction with
stabilizers, such as non-rotating stabilizers, and so on.
In some embodiments, a displacement mechanism can be positioned
proximate to the drill bit 118. However, in other embodiments, a
displacement mechanism can be positioned at various locations along
a drill string, a bottom hole assembly, and so forth. For example,
in some embodiments, a displacement mechanism is positioned in a
rotary steerable system 136, while in other embodiments, a
displacement mechanism can be positioned at or near the end of the
bottom hole assembly 116 (e.g., proximate to the drill bit 118). In
some embodiments, the drill string 104 can include one or more
filters that filter the drilling fluid 122 (e.g., upstream of the
displacement mechanism with respect to the flow of the drilling
fluid 122).
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, example systems and apparatus
are described that can provide wear resistant functionality to a
tool or equipment, such as to portions of the wellsite system 100
described with reference to FIG. 1. For instance, the example
systems and apparatus can provide a wear resistant part that can be
included in a valve (e.g., a rotary valve used to select flow paths
for operational fluids of the drill string 104), a piston (e.g., a
piston used to actuate the extendable displacement mechanism of the
drill string 104, a piston used to change the orientation of the
drill bit 118, or so forth), a flow channel (e.g., a flow channel
used to convey drilling fluid 122), a bearing (e.g., a bearing used
in the rotary swivel 114, a bearing used in a rotary component of
the drill string 104, such as the rotary steerable system 136, or
so forth), a filter (e.g., a filter for the drilling fluid 122,
such as upstream of the displacement mechanism with respect to the
flow of the drilling fluid 122), a stabilizer (e.g., a stabilizer
used in conjunction with the rotary steerable system 136), a flow
diverter, or other tools or system. A wear resistant part 200
includes a first material 202 having a structure 204, where the
first material 202 can maintain the structure 204 at high
temperatures, such as high infiltration temperatures (e.g., stable
at temperatures at and exceeding about 800.degree. C., stable from
about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C., stable from about
1100.degree. C. to about 1300.degree. C., or so forth). In
embodiments, the first material 202 can include, but is not limited
to, a ceramic material, a sintered tungsten carbide material, a
powder-based material (e.g., with a binder, without a binder), or
combinations thereof. The ceramic material can include, but is not
limited to, alumina (e.g., Al.sub.2O.sub.3 having a purity of about
95% or higher), high purity alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3 having a
purity of above about 99%), or the like. The powder-based material
can include, but is not limited to, a tungsten carbide powder, a
molybdenum alloy powder, a copper powder, or the like. The binder
can include, but is not limited to, a cobalt-based binder, a copper
alloy binder, combinations thereof, or the like. For instance,
ceramic materials, sintered tungsten carbide materials, and other
powder-based materials can maintain structural integrity during an
infiltration process (e.g., involving infiltrated tungsten carbide)
at temperatures ranging from 1000.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C.,
whereas in some instances, diamond materials (e.g., portions of
polycrystalline diamond compact materials) could convert to
graphite at high infiltration temperatures (e.g., temperatures at
and above 800.degree. C.).
The first material 202 also defines at least one surface feature
206. FIGS. 2 through 5 each show the surface feature 206 as a flow
channel (e.g., a linear flow channel shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a
non-linear flow channel shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). However, a flow
channel is provided by way of example of the surface feature 206,
and is not meant to limit the present disclosure. For example, in
embodiments, the surface feature 206 is a high tolerance feature,
such as an operating surface of the wear resistant part 200,
including, but not limited to, a running surface, a bushing
surface, a linear flow channel, a nonlinear flow channel, or so
forth. Moreover, the surface feature 206 can include a plurality of
flow channels, operating surfaces, or combinations thereof to
provide highly toleranced and scalable components that can
withstand high infiltration temperatures. In embodiments, a "high
tolerance feature" can be understood to refer to a feature spacing
between mating parts on the order of microns (e.g., ranging from
between about 0 microns to about 100 microns). For example, in one
instance of a high tolerance feature, when a cylindrical rotating
part has a diameter of at least approximately 30 mm, the spacing
between the outer circumferential surface of the rotating part and
an inner circumferential surface of bearing that receives the
rotating part can be a distance of at least approximately 5
microns.
The wear resistant part 200 also includes a second material 208
formed into a shape 210 extending partially around the structure
204 of the first material 202 while exposing the surface feature
206 of the first material 202. For example, the flow channels shown
in FIGS. 2 through 5 remain exposed while the second material 208
is formed into the shape 210 extending partially around the
structure 204 of the first material 202. An exposed portion of the
surface feature 206 can then interact with another structure, such
as a part 214, to provide functionality as a tool component or
system component, such as through providing an operating surface
with which to interface. For example, the part 214 can facilitate
selection or operation of the flow channels formed by the surface
feature 206 of the first material 202 by rotation of the part 214
relative to the wear resistant part 200. The first material can be
machined, molded, formed, or otherwise shaped, where a subsequent
infiltration technique (e.g., an infiltration molding process) can
connect (e.g., bond) the first material 202 with the second
material 208. For example, the first material 202 can be machined,
molded, formed, or otherwise shaped into the structure 204 (e.g.,
an insert portion) that includes the surface feature 206, where the
structure 204 is connected to the second material 208 that is
shaped into the shape 210 by infiltration of the second material
208 and where the second material 208 extends partially around the
structure 204 of the first material 202 to expose the surface
feature 206 of the first material 202. In embodiments, the second
material 208 can be the same as the first material 202, can differ
from the first material 202, or combinations thereof. For example,
the second material can include an infiltrated tungsten carbide
material.
The shape 210 of the second material 208 is formable by a matrix
infiltration at a high infiltration temperature at which the
structure of first material retains structural integrity. The high
infiltration temperature can be at a temperature above about
800.degree. C. For example, in some embodiments, the high
infiltration temperature is a temperature from about 1,000.degree.
C., 1,010.degree. C., 1,020.degree. C., 1,030.degree. C.,
1,040.degree. C., 1,050.degree. C., 1,060.degree. C., 1,070.degree.
C., 1,080.degree. C., 1,090.degree. C., 1,100.degree. C.,
1,110.degree. C., 1,120.degree. C., 1,130.degree. C., 1,140.degree.
C., 1,150.degree. C., 1,160.degree. C., 1,170.degree. C.,
1,180.degree. C., 1,190.degree. C., 1,200.degree. C., 1,210.degree.
C., 1,220.degree. C., 1,230.degree. C., 1,240.degree. C.,
1,250.degree. C., 1,260.degree. C., 1,270.degree. C., 1,280.degree.
C., 1,290.degree. C., 1,300.degree. C., 1,310.degree. C.,
1,320.degree. C., 1,330.degree. C., 1,340.degree. C., 1,350.degree.
C., 1,360.degree. C., 1,370.degree. C., 1,380.degree. C.,
1,390.degree. C., 1,400.degree. C., 1,410.degree. C., 1,420.degree.
C., 1,430.degree. C., 1,440.degree. C., 1,450.degree. C.,
1,460.degree. C., 1,470.degree. C., 1,480.degree. C., or
1,490.degree. C. to a temperature of about 1,010.degree. C.,
1,020.degree. C., 1,030.degree. C., 1,040.degree. C., 1,050.degree.
C., 1,060.degree. C., 1,070.degree. C., 1,080.degree. C.,
1,090.degree. C., 1,100.degree. C., 1,110.degree. C., 1,120.degree.
C., 1,130.degree. C., 1,140.degree. C., 1,150.degree. C.,
1,160.degree. C., 1,170.degree. C., 1,180.degree. C., 1,190.degree.
C., 1,200.degree. C., 1,210.degree. C., 1,220.degree. C.,
1,230.degree. C., 1,240.degree. C., 1,250.degree. C., 1,260.degree.
C., 1,270.degree. C., 1,280.degree. C., 1,290.degree. C.,
1,300.degree. C., 1,310.degree. C., 1,320.degree. C., 1,330.degree.
C., 1,340.degree. C., 1,350.degree. C., 1,360.degree. C.,
1,370.degree. C., 1,380.degree. C., 1,390.degree. C., 1,400.degree.
C., 1,410.degree. C., 1,420.degree. C., 1,430.degree. C.,
1,440.degree. C., 1,450.degree. C., 1,460.degree. C., 1,470.degree.
C., 1,480.degree. C., 1,490.degree. C., or 1,500.degree. C. The
matrix infiltration process can include a standard atmosphere for
infiltration of the second material. In embodiments, the matrix
infiltration process can include a controlled atmosphere, such as
an oxygen purge during infiltration of the second material, use of
a flux during infiltration, or so forth. An oxygen purge can remove
oxygen from the infiltration environment as a potential reactant
with materials involved in the matrix infiltration process (e.g.,
surfaces of the first material 202, metalized surfaces (described
further herein), or so forth).
In embodiments, a surface 212 of the first material 202 in contact
with the second material 208 is metalized. The surface 212 can be
metalized to facilitate connection between the first material 202
and the second material 208 during a process used to bond the first
material 202 with the second material. The process can include, for
example, a matrix infiltration process (e.g., matrix infiltration
process used to form the shape 210 of the second material), a
brazing process, or combinations thereof. For example, when the
first material 202 is machined, molded, formed, or otherwise shaped
to provide the structure 204 and surface feature 206, the surface
212 can be metalized for bonding the first material 202 to the
second material 208 during matrix infiltration, during a brazing
process, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the surface
212 is metalized to provide a sealed surface between the first
material 202 and the second material 208 following a process to
join the first material 202 and the second material 208 (e.g.,
infiltration process, brazing process, or so forth). For example, a
metalized surface on a ceramic component can provide a sealed
surface between the ceramic component and an infiltrated tungsten
carbide material following a matrix infiltration of the tungsten
carbide material, following a brazing process, or so forth. In
embodiments, the metal applied to the surface 212 can be the same
as, or metallurgically similar to, an infiltration binding material
used to infiltrate the second material 208, which can facilitate a
complete bond between the first material 202 and the second
material 208. For example, a metallurgically similar metal can
include, but is not limited to, a metal having a similar metal
composition, lattice structure, crystal structure, or the like. A
brazing process used to bond the first material 202 and the second
material 208 via the surface 212 that is metalized can provide a
removable, sealed running surface.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the wear resistant part 200 is shown
with the part 214 in an internal portion 216 of the wear resistant
part 200 and exploded therefrom, respectively. The structure 204 of
the wear resistant part 200 provides the surface feature 206 in the
form of a linear flow channel extending through the structure 204,
providing access to the interior portion 216. For example, the
structure 204 can be formed from a ceramic material, a sintered
tungsten carbide material, or other powder-based material (e.g.,
with a binder, without a binder), or combinations thereof and
machined, molded, formed, or otherwise shaped to provide the
structure 204 and surface feature 206. The second material 208 is
formed into the shape 210 (e.g., with an approximately cylindrical
exterior) extending partially around the structure 204 while
exposing the surface feature 206, such as to permit access to the
surface feature 206 from the interior portion 216, from an exterior
access region 218, other access regions, or combinations thereof.
For example, the structure 204 can be placed into a mold and the
second material 208 is infiltrated to form the shape 210 around the
structure 204 (while maintaining exposure of the surface feature
206) to bind the first material 202 and the second material 208.
When the part 214 is positioned in the interior portion 216, the
part 214 can facilitate selection or operation of the flow channels
formed by the surface feature 206 of the first material 202 by
rotation of the part 214 relative to the wear resistant part 200
within the interior portion 216, such as by aligning one or more
ports 220 formed in the part 214 with one or more flow channels
formed by the surface feature 206 in the structure 204.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the wear resistant part 200 is shown
with the part 214 in the internal portion 216 of the wear resistant
part 200 and exploded therefrom, respectively. The structure 204 of
the wear resistant part 200 provides the surface feature 206 in the
form of a linear flow channel 222 extending through the structure
204, providing access to the interior portion 216, and in the form
of a nonlinear flow channel 224 providing access to the interior
portion 216 from a bottom access region 226. For example, the
structure 204 can be formed from a ceramic material, a sintered
tungsten carbide material, or other powder-based material (e.g.,
with a binder, without a binder), or combinations thereof and
machined, molded, formed, or otherwise shaped to provide the
structure 204 and surface feature 206. The second material 208 is
formed into the shape 210 (e.g., with an approximately cylindrical
exterior) extending partially around the structure 204 while
exposing the surface feature 206, such as to permit access to the
surface feature 206 from the interior portion 216, from the
exterior access region 218, from the bottom access region 226, from
other access regions, or combinations thereof. For example, the
structure 204 can be placed into a mold and the second material 208
is infiltrated to form the shape 210 around the structure 204
(while maintaining exposure of the surface feature 206) to bind the
first material 202 and the second material 208. When the part 214
is positioned in the interior portion 216, the part 214 can
facilitate selection or operation of the linear flow channel 222
and the nonlinear flow channel 224 formed by the surface feature
206 of the first material 202 by rotation of the part 214 relative
to the wear resistant part 200 within the interior portion 216,
such as by aligning one or more ports 220 formed in the part 214
with the linear flow channel 222, the nonlinear flow channel 224,
or combinations thereof.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a procedure 600 is described in an example
embodiment in which a wear resistant part is formed from a first
material and a second material. At block 610, a structure, such as
the structure 104, having one or more surface features, such as the
surface feature 106, is received, where the structure is formed of
a first material, such as a ceramic material, a sintered tungsten
carbide material, or powder-based material, or combinations
thereof, capable of maintaining the structure at a temperature from
about 1000.degree. C. to about 1500.degree. C. At block 620, matrix
infiltration at a temperature from about 1000.degree. C. to about
1500.degree. C., is used to form a second material, such as an
infiltrated tungsten carbide material, into a shape that can extend
partially around the structure of the first material while exposing
the surface feature of the first material. At block 630, the second
material is connected to the first material. In some embodiments,
at block 632, the second material can be formed partially around
the first material by the matrix infiltration. As described herein,
one or more surfaces of the first material may be metalized for
bonding with the second material during the matrix infiltration. In
some embodiments, at block 634, the first material can be brazed to
the second material (e.g., when one or more surfaces of the first
material are metalized).
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that
those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the
disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they
may readily use the disclosure as a basis for designing or
modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same
purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments
introduced herein. Additionally, it should be understood that
references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present
disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the
existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the
recited features. For example, features shown in individual
embodiments referred to above may be used together in combinations
other than those which have been shown and described specifically.
Accordingly, any such modification is intended to be included
within the scope of this disclosure. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not just
structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus,
although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in
that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts
together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the
environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be
equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant
not to invoke means-plus-function for any limitations of any of the
claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses
the words `means for` together with an associated function.
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